6 January 2025 - Public Notice Module Now Available - Enhances RRS Functionality!
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is excited to announce the launch of the Public Notice module on the Regulatory Request System (RRS). Released in January 2025, this new feature allows users nationwide to search, review, and comment on projects being reviewed by the Regulatory Program, significantly enhancing transparency, accessibility, and efficiency. The Public Notice module provides access to Regulatory projects requiring a standard permit or when public notices are issued to develop Mitigation Banks, In-lieu Fee Programs or to issue/reissue a Regional or Programmatic Permit or Section 404 Letter of Permission. It organizes notices by state and district, which can be viewed in a table format or on an interactive map. Users can easily search for notices by project name or address and submit comments directly through the platform, streamlining public engagement and reinforcing USACE's commitment to improving transparency and the permitting process.
The RRS is a web-based platform, currently in its beta version, designed to simplify the permitting process and enhance user experience. In addition to the new Public Notice Module, RRS enables users to submit permit applications, request jurisdictional determinations, and schedule pre-application meetings, all through a user-friendly interface.
We encourage you to explore the Regulatory Request System and its new features by visiting rrs.usace.army.mil. For additional information or to provide feedback, please contact us at rrs@usace.army.mil.
15 November 2024 - Special Public Notice Regulatory Program Workshop
PURPOSE OF PUBLIC NOTICE: To inform you of that the U.S Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District (Corps) is hosting a Workshop on the Regulatory program for all interested parties.
AGENDA: Workshop topics will include: 1) Welcome and Opening Remarks; 2) State of the Regulatory Program (Changes to budget and program); 3) Hot topics including Special Public Notices – Programmatic Emphasis on Permit Applications (AJD), Jurisdictional Determinations (JDs) and JD Request Form, Pipeline Template, Mitigation Bank HQ Memo and SWG Mitigation Bank Templates; 4) Jurisdiction and JDs, Techniques we are using for JDs, an interpretation of the pre-2015 post Sackett, useful information to collect during the delineation site visit to help us determine a CSC, requirements for us to accept a delineation; 5) Special Public Notice – NWP GC18, in relation to ESA consultation, differences between FWS/NMFS consultation, lessons learned and good practices, tools and programmatic efforts; 6) Endangered Species, new species/habitat concerns, BA – what the service wants to see in detail for different projects.; and 7) Section 408, challenges, coordination requirements; 8) Regulatory Division Remarks; 9) Open Discussion, Q/A, Networking.
The link to the PN is listed here.
7 November 2024 - The USACE Antecedent Precipitation Tool (APT) is Operational
NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), headquartered in Asheville, NC, has restored service to its data center following the impacts from Hurricane Helene.
The USACE Antecedent Precipitation Tool (APT), which relies on the NOAA data, is once again operational. USACE HQ is adding an announcement to our HQ webpage to make the public aware that APT service has been restored.
There may be some intermittent downtime as NOAA continues to restore and improve service. The APT Team is aware of this issue and therefore there is no need to submit additional error reports to the APT Team.
Practitioners may also check the following webpage for updates from NOAA: https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/latest-on-hurricane-helenes-impacts-on-noaas-national-centers-for-environmental-information .
Our thoughts continue to be with the people across the region and all of those who will deal with disruptions in their community for a long time.
28 October 2024 - Notice of Availability of the Regional Streamflow Duration Assessment Methods of the Arid West, Western Mountains, and Great Plains
View Public Notice
On 28 October 2024, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Albuquerque, Chicago, Detroit, Fort Worth, Galveston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Omaha, Rock Island, Sacramento, San Francisco, St. Louis, St. Paul, and Tulsa Districts, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Regions 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 jointly announce the availability of the Regional Streamflow Duration Assessment Methods (Regional SDAMs) for the Arid West, Western Mountains and Great Plains. The methods are rapid assessment tools for distinguishing between ephemeral, intermittent, and perennial streamflow at the reach scale for the Arid West, Western Mountains and Great Plains regions.
9 October 2024 - The USACE Antecedent Precipitation Tool (APT) is Temporarily Down
NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), headquartered in Asheville, NC, has been affected by Hurricane Helene. The NCEI data center is currently shut down. NOAA NCEI’s network service provider is also currently down, and at this point, there is no definitive timeline for when it will be fully operational. Because NOAA’s precipitation data are not currently available, the USACE Antecedent Precipitation Tool (APT), which relies on the NOAA data, is not currently operational. The APT Team is aware of this issue and therefore there is no need to submit additional error reports to the APT Team.
There is currently no anticipated timeline for getting NOAA’s servers back up-and-running, and there are no alternative data sources to fill the data gaps that would provide an immediate restoration of the APT. However, practitioners may use the manual procedures described in Chapter 5 of the Regional Supplements to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual and Chapter 19 of NRCS’ Engineering Field Handbook.
USACE will continue to monitor and coordinate with NOAA. Practitioners may also check the following webpage for updates from NOAA: https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/latest-on-hurricane-helenes-impacts-on-noaas-national-centers-for-environmental-information
15 May 2024 - Permit Applications Can Now Be Submitted Via RRS!
USACE is pleased to announce that the new national online application portal and management platform, known as the Regulatory Request System (RRS) now includes an electronic submission option for permit applications. This platform has been introduced to modernize our permit application process and to address our users' expectations by providing a straightforward and transparent process for the submittal of permit requests.
RRS is a web-based platform currently in a beta version that enables users to submit pre-application meeting requests, jurisdictional determination requests, and now applications for individual and general permits. This new system aims to streamline the process, improve efficiency, and provide a more user-friendly experience for our applicants.
We believe that RRS will not only benefit our users by simplifying the application process but will also enhance our ability to effectively manage and review permit requests. We are confident that this modernization initiative will lead to improved customer satisfaction and greater overall efficiency within our Regulatory Program.
We encourage users to explore and utilize the new Regulatory Request System to take advantage of its benefits and features. Watch this 90 second promo for detials: https://youtu.be/qY-PPNw5Wic?si=WGgya0RE9nCt8h0G and visit rrs.usace.army.mil today!
For additional information on or to provide feedback on RRS, please contact us using the following email: rrs@usace.army.mil.
22 March 2024 – Special Public Notice SWG-2019-00067 Port of Corpus Christi Channel Deepening Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
The notice of availability for the Corpus Christi Channel Deepening Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was published by the Corps in the Federal Register on March 22, 2024. The Corps will execute a final decision regarding the proposed action and complete a Record of Decision no sooner than 30 days (April 21, 2024) following publication of the Notice of Availability of the Final EIS. The Final EIS is available for public review beginning on March 22, 2024. The Final EIS is accessible at the Corps’ Project webpage.
Comments may be submitted during the entire 30-day review period and will be reviewed and incorporated into the administrative record prior to the Corps’ finalization of the procedure.
13 February 2024 - Final 2022 National Wetland Plant List is Available
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as part of an interagency effort with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, is announcing the availability of the final 2022 National Wetland Plant List (NWPL). The Federal Register Notice for the 2022 NWPL update can be found here: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-02-13/pdf/2024-02903.pdf.
The NWPL provides plant species wetland indicator status ratings, which are used in determining whether the hydrophytic vegetation factor is met when conducting wetland delineations under the Clean Water Act and wetland determinations under the Wetland Conservation Provisions of the Food Security Act. Other applications of the NWPL include wetland restoration, establishment, and enhancement projects. The list is effective as of 13 February 2024 and will be used in any wetland delineations performed after this date.
Completed wetland delineation/determination forms should reference the version of the NWPL used to complete the form. The final NWPL is available at https://wetland-plants.sec.usace.army.mil/ (preferred browsers are Chrome and Firefox). Please note that while the web address for the NWPL website has not changed with this update, the website itself has undergone updates to enhance the utility of the NWPL.
Updated versions of the Automated Wetland Determination Data Sheets (ADS), which reflect revisions to the NWPL, can be found at the following link: https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Regulatory-Program-and-Permits/reg_supp/ within the “General Information” dropdown. More info regarding the ADS and its utility in wetland delineation can be found at the following link: https://www.usace.army.mil/Media/Announcements/Article/2989646/5-april-2022-army-corps-of-engineers-announces-the-release-of-automated-wetland/.
31 January 2024 - USACE launches new Regulatory Request System
USACE announces the launch of its new Regulatory Request System (RRS). RRS is designed to make the review of permit requests a transparent and efficient process for the public. RRS, currently in a beta version, provides general information on the Regulatory Program and allows the public to submit pre-application meeting requests and jurisdictional determination requests.
Additional capability is scheduled in Spring 2024. This added capability will allow users the ability to electronically submit individual and general permit applications and other necessary information, saving time and reducing the need for paper-based submissions.
RRS will streamline the permit application process and underscores USACE commitment to modernizing our application process, meeting user expectations, and providing a transparent, straightforward process for the timely review of permit requests.
Stay tuned for further updates on the full release of the RRS. Please click on the Please click on the following link to access RRS: https://rrs.usace.army.mil/
Historical Regulatory Hot Topics
Important Information on the Department of the Army Permitting Process and use of Nationwide Permits in the San Jacinto Waste Pits
Updated Jurisdictional Delineation GPS Procedures
To improve the customer service experience, the Regulatory Division has now established a Regulatory Hotline at 409-766-3869